So although KBCO pulled its sponsorship of the traditional Kinetics Sculpture Challenge last year, it should come as no surprise that a group of veteran kineticists pulled the 29th annual event together anyway.

With no reservoir permit and limited funding, a group of die-hard kinetics fans still managed a grounded version of the challenge Saturday, creating a land obstacle course in the Twenty Ninth Street mall's northeast parking lot. Fifteen teams showcased their contraptions for crowds that reached a maximum of about 150.

The event was decidedly different from past years, when it drew up to 40,000 people for an all-day beach party, and many of the spectators who stopped by throughout the morning were underwhelmed.

But for participants, it was a different story.

Some even said the laid-back environment was an improvement from the rowdy reservoir scene.

Jon Verploegh, who has been coming to Boulder's Kinetics from his home in Albuquerque every year since 1984, said he was pleased with the changes.

"I thought it was getting too commercial," Verploegh said. "It's really for us."

Competitor Scott Frey agreed.

"It's back to what kinetics is," he said. "At the heart, it's just a bunch of wacky people out doing their thing."

And that they did. Dressed as Indians, gorillas and sexy cats, the kineticists gathered in the parking lot around 9 a.m. with their sculptures. Around 10 a.m., in a minimally organized fashion, the contestants raced two at time through an obstacle course that included five figure-eight spins and tight turns that were particularly difficult for the larger crafts.

In an effort to retain some water element, organizers incorporated a fireman's drill into the course. The engineers ran around their vehicles five times while onlookers attacked them with squirt guns and water bombs.

Spectator Ben Guderian wasn't impressed by the water fight.

"A lot of the fun was seeing whether they'd be able to float or not," he said. "It isn't going to be the draw that there was at the reservoir."

Paul Bailey, an organizer of Saturday's event, said he still hopes to pull together a water race, possibly in June.

Once the relays were complete, kineticists biked, hauled and pushed their creations up the street to the mall's main strip, settling into parking spaces for the display portion of the day. The challenge culminated around noon in a block-long parade before four judges, who gave scores for style, engineering, costumes and structure.

Some familiar parade participants remained, including the Boulder High School Drum Line and the Colorado Irish Pipe Band, but onlooker Paige Blackburn said it paled in comparison to the Pearl Street parade that traditionally preceded Kinetics.

"I definitely like Pearl Street better," she said. "We used to make a day of it."

The Kinetics challenge started in Boulder in 1980 with the financial help of KBCO. This year's event was backed by The Boulder Jaycees, who will donate entry-fee proceeds to Boulder County foster children programs.

Participant Darren Droge, who had been to seven previous Kinetics challenges, said there was a stronger family component to Saturday's event.

"It can still be pulled off without the hype, the beer and the partiers," he said.